Outwood Primary Academy Alne has achieved the Inclusive School Award.

Outwood Primary Academy Alne is a primary school in a small, rural village in an affluent area of Alne, North Yorkshire. The school is part of Outwood Grange Academies Trust. There are currently 89 pupils on roll from Reception to Year 6. There is a preschool next door that is separate from the school but offers places for children from two years and wrap-around care for working families.    

There is a strong inclusive ethos across Outwood Primary Academy Alne and both pupil and staff wellbeing are fully embedded and shape all aspects of school life. There is a welcoming, positive atmosphere when you visit the school. From the moment you arrive, you are welcomed warmly into the community. All staff, parents and carers, Governors and pupils ‘buy in’ to the inclusive culture. Staff and pupils seem happy and interact positively with each other and any visitors. Classroom environments are purposeful and the pupils are engaged in the learning. 

Staff describe themselves as “close-knit” and work collaboratively to support the children and their families. In all meetings, it was evident that the staff’s commitment to their roles extends beyond the classroom. The staff will exceed expectations to support their pupils. There is a collective responsibility amongst the staff to look after the children and give them the best experience possible. All adults who work in the school are kind and nurturing. This kind and inclusive ethos permeates all staff, regardless of role; all staff are valued and respected. 

Members of staff pride themselves on being inclusive. They believe that every child, no matter what their individual needs or barriers to learning, has equal access to learning and the same opportunities to succeed. They have a sound understanding that inclusion is not just about specific groups of children but about all children being included in all areas of the provision. This is evident as you walk around the school and see that all children are included in the learning environment. 

The parents our Assessor met with on the day spoke positively of the support they had received over the years from Outwood Primary Alne. 

Read the full report on the IQM website.